Eckmans Enhance Faculty Resources at Gustavus

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When you’re passionate about life, it can be difficult to decide how you want to leave your legacy at Gustavus. For Kay and Matthew ’62 Eckman the decision to support teaching and learning through the John S. Kendall Center for Engaged Learning came down to the College’s fundamental mission of academic excellence—with a twist.

“We decided that since the purpose of Gustavus is to educate, faculty need to have resources available to renew and revitalize their teaching methods. Technology and the ways students learn are always changing. Faculty need to be able to grow and change with it,” says Matt. It’s a lesson he learned from Dr. Kendall himself, who threw away his lecture notes every few years and developed fresh materials.

The fact that the center is named after Dr. Kendall also gives the gift a special meaning to the Eckmans. They got to know John and his wife, Joanne, quite well over the years. Matt and Joanne even served on the same committee for Commission Gustavus 150.

Though it will be several years before their planned gift comes to fruition, the Eckmans know it is something that will endure, helping them leave the world a little better than they found it.